According to a study by cloud video provider Grabyo, 80% of UK sports fans want to watch their favourite teams exclusively on streaming services.
With the decline in TV subscription services as high as 27%, fans are turning to the internet and social media platforms, with 40% of sports fans reporting to prefer watching sport in this way. Whether that be on the go or at home, streaming services are continuing to grow within the sports space.
What is the benefit of streaming services?
Streaming services are entirely flexible and with the addition of social media platforms, fans are able to watch exclusive, behind the scenes footage, live streams and a huge range of content directly from their team. So really, the TV coverage probably isn’t enough action for viewers anymore.
Not only do streaming services benefit fans, organisations and teams can reap plenty of rewards too. Streaming via social media platforms mean that teams can directly engage with their fan base, building stronger relationships. With this, fans can engage on any device, so even when they’re out and about they can still tune in to the game – which often means that you can reach larger audiences. We haven’t even told you the best part, which is social media streaming services have tools where teams and organisations can begin to earn revenue from these live streaming interactions.
What does this mean for the future of sport viewership?
Plenty of recent research has shown that more and more fans are moving away from linear broadcasting. The bottom line is, rights holders, organisations and teams need to meet fans’ expectations and until they can do this, viewership will continue to decrease.
The way in which people digest sports content is changing at a rapid rate and here at Nifty we are best placed to help organisations monetise from this shift.
The opportunities are endless once you begin utilising your community online so get in touch now and we can help you every step of the way.
